Locking device



J. E. BALES LOCKING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25, 1932 2 sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 4, 1936. J. E. BME@ 2,049,939

LOCKING DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'JZ/vena@ awi Patented Aug. 4, 1936 PAfrEN'r4 oFFi-c; i

LocKiNG DEVICE James Bales,'Aurora, Illr, assignorY tov Lyon- Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, Ill.,y a Y corporation of fIllinos Application November 23, 1932Serial No.' 644,007v

18 Claims.

This invention relatestolockers and yparticularlyA tolockers made of sheet metal. -More specically theA invention `relatesfto a locking.- rnechae'y nism for sheet metal lockers.

The primary object of; the invention'istofprovide a newand improvedflocking construction which permits pre-.lockingfthat is, the lock may be lockedl while the. door is in open positiontand,

then,1 when` the door is-pushed to; closed position, a locking rodwill lock thea-door and prevent-it be'- ing reopenedvuntilfa key controlled mechanism, suchas. a cylinder lock or. a padlock, isy unlocked topermit manipulation of the locking device con trollingmechanism;`

Another object'of. the invention is to. provide av sheet metal locker .With-a...lockingf mechanism which. includes aplate and a locking rod, the

plate having slidable.movementrelative tothe slidable -movable locking rod. j

Another Objectis` to-provide new and improvedmeans for. a locker .locking rodv for holding the rod in .up or unlocked position -during manipulation-ofV a` locking device, and. which, -when en gagedA during closing. movement-ofl the door. will release mechanism to 1 permit they rodl to -drop to door'locking position.4 --f Other objects of the invention are the provision#r of lockingmechanismand a locking.rodtheY provision .of means for permitting slidable movement: of the locking mechanism relative to the vlocking` rod, the provision of meansfor holdingtherod ing mechanism is locked-andwhen the, rod is= dropped Ato.door locking" position.

Numerous otherobjects:A and advantages will be apparent throughoutvthe progressl of the followingv specication.

'I'he accompanyingfdrawingsillustrate a` selected..v embodiment of; the-invention and the views therelnf are as, follows Fig. lisa detailvperspectivefview of azrsheet' metal-locker and embodying the inventionf.`

Fig. 2 isa; detail perspective viewfof the-lockinginechanism.Z showing the='1ocking Vrod in-its normalI locked orloweredposition, parts being broken away foi-rfthesake'of clearness.-

Fig.. 3` is. a .detail transversea sectional view on` the line 3-3 of- Eig, 2. Y

Fig. 4 Iisa: View similarrto Fig.Y 2 showing the. lockingmechanism. in unlocked and raised posi-` tion.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the locking. rod in raised or unlocked position.

Fig. 6 is a viewsimilar to ,Fig.5 showing the locking 'rodin lowered or locked position.

The locker hereinvshown for'` illustrative -pur- 5 poses is :provided with side jambs l and. 8. A sheet metal door!! is swingingly mounted on the jamb 8 by-means of hinges I0. The peripheral edges of the vdoorzare bent-inwardfrom the inner face to provide the inwardly. extending anges II. 1o A siderflange II, at the. free. end-of the door, is bent at- I2 .to provide an inwardly extending ledge I3, thereby providing a three-sided recess Hl into which a-locking rod I5 is slidably arranged.,

The. lockingrod I5 .is provided WithA spaced 15 slots I6 through which rivets I1 extend. The rivets I'Ilextend through the side ange .I IA at the free end, ofA the door and have heads I8 on their inner ends. for the purpose of holding the locking rod .against the side flange II and still allow 20o for slidable movement of the rod I5.

, The-rod, I 5 is providedwithright angle project.- ing ngers I9 which are struck -out and bentfrom the rod toprovide lockingI fingers which cooper-- ate with keepers 2(1.fastened tothe jamb 1.

A door operating grasp 2I is arranged on the outer face of the jdoor. and'hasitsupper end fastened. thereto byv means of afastening member. 22.` The lower end ofithegrasp extends through a slot in the door'and has its lower end bent 30Y as. indicated .at 23, Figs. 5. and. 6..v 4Anoperating handlef..24isarranged within .the boundary of theY grasp 2l. and has a tail-piece. 25 provided atits lower end which extends through a slot formedinfthe bottom ofthe grasp 2|. A projec- 35- tionfZ isfformed on ithevupper end of the handle 24V and extends.'A through an elongatedv slot V2'I formed through the door. AThisprojection 26 alsofprojects, .through and assists in. supporting..

a plate, 28. Which is thus rendered movable verv tically upon vertical movement ofthe handle 24. The plate 28, is-provided-with inwardly extending. upper `and'` lower ilanges 29 which overlap the outer or open surface-of the locking rod Iti` as indicated at 30. Oiset upper and lower members 3| are xed-.to the rod-such as by rivets 32, and receive the anges 29 ofthe plate 28; Thus, the` iianges` 29 are received-betweenfthe outer face. ofthe rodv I5 and the inner faceof the members 3l. The plate 28rissuitably held on the inside 50 face of the door by meansof-the projection 26, and theailanges LIS-receivedbetween the outer turned ends of the members 3| and theouter face ofthelockingk rod;- |5.--..I'lf1erefore, vertical mOVement of thehand-le 24, which movement isr 55 Vdinary normal circumstances. `a key is applied to the lock 48 to withdraw the limited by the slot 21, will raise the rod I5. The rod I5 is provided with ratchet teeth 33 which are engaged by the end 34 of a spring clip 35 which is fastened to the inner face of the door. When the rod is raised, the spring clip 35 will engage the ratchet teeth 33 and hold the rod in up unlocked position so long as the door is in open or partly open position. However, during closing movement of the door, such as when the door is pushed all the way shut, the keepers 20 will strike the spring clip 35, push it inwardly and disengage the clip from the teeth 33, thereby permitting the rod I5 to drop to closing position by gravity. The construction so far described includes a handle having vertical slidable movement relative to the locking rod. When the handle is moved upwardly, engagement of the iianges with the members 3l will cause the rod I5 to be raised to unlocked position. Then, when the door isopened, the spring clip 35 will hold the rod in up or unlocked position, freeing the locking fingers I9 from the keepers 28. However, upon release of the handle 24, the handle and the plate 28 will drop downwardly by gravity.

The tail-piece 25 isprovided with an opening or hole 38 to receive the bow or shackle of a padlock when the handle 24 has dropped by` gravity to its normal position, Fig. 6. The handle 24 is thereby locked and cannot be raised. When the door is closed, however, the spring clip 35 will be moved away from engagement with the ratchetY teeth and thereby the rod is free to lock with the keepers 2D. The door will thus be in locked posithe projecting ledge 38 andprevent the handlev 24 from being raised. To open the door when it is in locked position with the rod down, and the draw-bolt of the lock against the ledge 38, it would be impossible to open the door under or- However, when bolt 39, the handle 24 may be raised. The raising of the handle, as previously described, will also raise the slidable rod I5. Then, when the door is pulled to open position, the rod I5 will remain in up position because the spring clip 35 will be in engagement with the ratchet teeth 33. In this position the locking fingers I9 will be out of engagement with the keepers 28 or in the position shown in Fig. 5. As soon as the handle 24 is released, the handle is free to drop even though the locking rod is held upwardly. As soon as the handle drops, the handle being connected to the plate 28, the plate will also drop. Therefore, the lock 48 may be locked to bring the bolt 38 in the path of the ledge 38. Thus, when the door is pushed closed, the jamb will strike the spring clip 35, cause disengagement of the clip from'the teeth 33 and allow the lingers to drop into the keepers and thereby lock the door. This construction permits the handle 24 to be locked and prevent movement thereof, but will permit the locking rod to drop by gravity when the doorV is shut. Y

It would still be possible, however, to open the locker by slipping a wire through an opening in spring 46 has an upper spring end 4l and a lower spring end 48. When the handle 24 is raised upwardly, the spring end 4'I will engage a ledge 49 on the cover plate 58, and upon such engagement, the spring will turn the trigger 4i to substantially vertical position as shown in Fig. 4. The handle 24 will then be free to drop downwardly, but the rod I5 will remain in up position.

However, as soon as the locking rod is dropped by the closing ofthe door, the end 48 ofthe spring 46 willv engage the fastening element 22 and swing the trigger on its pivot 42 to the position shown in Fig. 2 inwhich position the end of the trigger will lie immediately above an arm 5i which is bent from one of the members 3|. Therefore, if a wire or other device were slipped through an opening in the door and engage one of the fingers I8, the rod I5 could not be raised as it would strike the lower end of the trigger 43. In raised position the end 41 of the spring is compressed by its engagement with a part of the casing 5l),V thereby turning the trigger on its axis orpivot and freeing it from the ledge or arm 5I, allowing the plate to drop relative to the locking rod I5. When thedoor is closed, the spring clip 35 will become disengaged from the rod and the weight of the rod moving downwardly, will bring the nger or ledge 5|below the bottom of the trigger 4I at which time the end 48 of the spring 46 will turn the trigger so that it will lie directly in the path of the ledge or finger 5I. Therefore, when the door is closed and locked, it is impossible to raise the rod I5 or to raise the handle 24. Turned iianges 52 and 53 are bent up from the plate 28 on opposite sides of the plate to limit the pivotal movement lof the trigger 4I'.

A rubber plug 54 is fastened in position on the inner face of the door to provide bumpers or strikes Vfor the plate 28 during upwardror downward movement thereof.

Operation When the door is closed and locked, the parts will assume thev position shown in Fig. 2. The end 4I of the spring 46 will be away from the ledge 49 of the cover plate or casing 58, but the end 48 of the spring will engage the fastening member 22 and the trigger will be turned to engage the arm or ledge 5I which is xed to the rod I5. Therefore, the handle 24 cannot be Voperated to raise the rod, nor can the rod be raised independently of the handle. However, upon the insertionl of a key to move the locking bolt 38 to unlocked position or the removal of a padlock from the opening 36 in the tail-piece, the handle 24 may be raised. Raising of the handle 24 will also yraise the lockingrod I5 a distance suiicient to'permit the locking iingers I9 to free themselves from the slots in the keepers 25. The door is thus free to be opened. Upon opening movement of the door, the spring clip 35 will engage the ratchet teeth 33 and holdthe locking rod I5 in up or unlocked position. Also, upon release of the handle 24, the handle is free to Cil padlock, vazk'ey may. be inserted-in` the. lock 40 to shift-thefdraw-bolt 39 into locked position vrelative to the projecting ledge 38.' All the parts.

are thusin locked position with theexception of the' lockingl rod-l5 andv thesafetyv trigger flellf.l When.the=dooriispushed to closed'position, the

keepers '26 will strike lthe spring clip 35'and` disengage the clip from the teeth 33 1and the-rod willclrop, by gravity, to-locked position bringing the-lockingffingersf'w into locking position relativefrtosthe keepers 2B. During the downward movement ofthe locking rod I 5,' the ledge or arm Y5l-williberrnoved below the'bottom of the trigger 205s notbe opened-without the-use of a proper key.

f in unlocked position, means `for releasing saidA Theinvention provides a locking device which permits pre-locking, that is, the locks on thedoor may-belocked whilethe-dooris in its open position. ThisisA made possible due to the fact thatthe lockingdevice or locking rod operates `independent of the outside lock controlling handle. The purpose of this arrangement is that the'- loeker may bel/unlocked and thenimmediatelyv have the lockingl members locked while A the doorisfopened either by-'use of a flat key lock, apadloclg ora combination lock. It is then only necessary -to push the door closed asthe locking mechanism will then function and `therdoor will be securelylocked without any Vmanual operations. requires only the use ofl few and simple parts, and'it may be made Very economically. The lockingdevice is positive in operation and pre-- vents opening the locker door except in the ordinary normal manner by the employment of a propery keys- Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departingfrom the spirit of the-invention or sacricing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all` such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims: f

The-'invention is'hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a locker construction, a slidably mounted" tion of said handle to operate the rod, and` piv-r otally mounted.v means` for preventing move'-` ment of said rod when said. rod is inlockedposition and said locking means are in locked posiy tion.. t

`2. A locking device forl lockers and .the like comprising a slidably `mounted locking rod, a handle manually operatedfor moving the rod to unlocked-position, means for holding said rod last namedfmeans whereby the rod will be released and returnedto locked position, lock controlled means. for preventing operation ofsaid handle .to -operate the rod,` pivotally mounted meansffor'preventing-movement of said rod when vThe lockingV device is relatively simple,-

said rod is .in locked position andsaidf lockingVv rneansarey in locked position', and spring .meansT for controlling the pivotal. movement of said" pivoted meanswhen the. rod: is in unlocked. position and saidlockingmeans are unlocked'.

3. In a locker construction having. spacedw jambs, a door between said jambs and hingedlyr supported on one lof said. jambs, anda locking. rod slidablymounted'on the innerface ofithedoon at .the f-reefedge thereof, the combination of .a;.10?f plate slidably mounted on theinside of said. door;`

a handle on the foutside *ofv the door for sliding-f the plate upwardly, means on the plate and engageablelwith the lockingrod"for-raising the rod whenfthe plate is slid upwardly, and means'for.:

holdingv the rod in raised position, said plateslidJ-l ing downwardly to normalv lowered position by"A ingly raising the plate, means on the plate and engageable'with the locking rod for raising the rod when the plate is'raised, means for holding the rod in raised position, said plate droppingft'ov normal `loweredposition by gravity upon release of said'handle and causing disengagement of said first named means with the rod, and locking means engaging said plate for preventing operation of said handle.

5. In a locker having spaced jambs, and a doo-r between 'said jambs and hingedly supported on one of said jambs,a locking device comprising a locking rod slidably mounted on the inner face of the" door at the free edge thereof, aplate slidably mounted onv the inside of said door, a handle o-n the outside'of the doorforraising the plate, means on the plate and engageable` with the locking rod for raising the rod when the plate is raised, a clip for holding the rod in raised position, said plate returning they normal loweredposition by gravity upon release of said handle, Vand means engagingsaid clip when the door is movedy toclosed position to releasesaid clip from the-'rod and permit the rod to drop to locked'position by gravity when so released.

6. A door locking rdevice comprising a locking rod` slidably mounted on the inner face of'a hinged door at the free edge thereof, a plate slidably mountedl on'theinside'of said door, a handle on the outside of the door for raising the plate, means on the plate and engageable with the locking'rod for raising therod when the plate is raised, means for holding the rod in raised position when raised by the plate to unlock the door, said plate returning to normal lowered position by gravity upon release of said handle, locking means engaging said plate .for preventing op-l eration-.of saidhandle, key controlled means for locking said handleinlowered position andpreventing operation of said handle and means for releasing. the rod fromv raised unlocked position, said rod,dropping. by gravity to locked position when released..

. "7.. A locking device for doors comprising a locking rodfslidably` mounted on the inner face of aY hinged. door at the .free edgel thereof, a plate slidably mounted on the. inside of said door, a handle on the outside of-the door for slidingly raising the plata-meanson-the plate and engageable with the locking rod `for raising the rod when the' plate is raised, a clip on the door for holding the rod in raised unlocked position, said plate returning to normal lowered position by gravity upon release of said handle, means engaging said clip when the door is mo-ved to closed position to release said clip from the rod and permit the rod to drop to locked position by gravity when so released, and key controlled means for locking said handle in lo-Wered position and preventing operation of said handle and consequently preventing operation of the rod.

8. A locking device comprising a locking rod slidably mounted on the inner face of a hinged door at the free edge thereof, a plate slidably mounted on the inside of saidV door, a handle on the outside of the door for raising the plate, means on the plate and engageable with the locking rod for raising the rod when vthe plate is raised, means for holding the rod in raised position, said plate returning to normal lowered position by gravity upon release of Vsaid handle, locking means engaging said plate for preventing operation of said handle, a iinger on said rod and trigger means on said plate for engaging said finger for preventing upward vertical movement of said rod independently of the handle.

9. A locking device comprising a locking rod slidably mounted on the inner face of a swingingly mounted door at vthe free edge thereof, a plate slidably mounted on the inside of said door, a handle on the outside of the door for raising the plate, means on the plate and engageable with the locking rod for raising the rod When the plate is raised, said rod when raised being in unlocked position to permit opening of the door, a clip, for holding the rod in raised unlocked position, said plate returning to normal lowered unlocked position by gravity upon release of said handle, means engaging said clip when the door is moved to closed position to release said clip from the rod and permit the rod to drop to locked position by gravity when so released, key controlled means for locking said handle in lowered position and preventing operation of said handle and consequently preventing movement of the rod when in lowered position, detent means rigid with said rod, and means pivoted to said plate for engaging said detent means to prevent upward vertical movementof said rod independently of the handle. Y

l0. A locking member adapted to be slidably mounted on the inner face of a swingingly mounted door at the free edge thereof, a handle slidably mounted on the outside of the door and having slidable movement independent of the locking member, means operably associated with the handle and locking member to move the locking member to unlocked position upon movement of the handle in a predetermined direction, means for holding the locking member in unlocked position when the door is moved from the locking jamb, means for locking the handle to prevent movement thereof, and means for releasing the locking member when the door is moved to closed position to permit the locking member to return to locked position even though the handle is maintained in locked immovable position.

11. A locking member adapted to be slidably mounted on the inner face of a swingingly mounted door at the free edge thereof, said member having struck-out lugs, .a handle slidably mounted on the outside of the door and having slidable movement independent of the locking member, means operably associated with the handle and locking member to move the locking member to unlocked position upon movement of the handle in a predetermined direction, means for holding the locking member in unlocked position when the door is moved from the locking jamb, means for locking the handle to prevent movement thereof, means for releasing the locking memberwhen the door is moved toY closed position to permit the locking member to return to locked position even though the handle is maintained in locked immovable position, and keepers on the locking jamb and receiving the lugs on the locking member when the door is in closed position. Y Y

12. A locking member slidably mounted on the inner face of a hingedly fastened door at the free edge thereof, said Vmember having struck-out lugs, a handle slidably mounted on the outside of Vthe door and having slidable movement independent of the locking member, means operably associated with the handle and locking member to move the locking member to unlocked position upon movement of the handle in a predetermined direction, means for holding the locking member in unlocked position when the door is moved from the lockingV jamb, means for locking the handle to prevent movement thereof, means for releasing the locking member when the door is moved to closed position to permit the locking member to return to locked position even though the handle is maintained in locked immovable position, keepers on the locking jamb and receiving the lugs on the locking member when the door is in closed position, and means preventing independent movement of the locking member when the door is in closed position and the handle is in locked position.

13. In combination, a member for locking a door in closed position in its frame, actuating means for moving the locking member to unlocked position, means for holding the locking member in unlocked position, locking means operated exteriorly of the door and adapted'to be locked when the locking member is held in unlocked position, means engageable with a part ofthe door frame when the door is moved to closed position to release the locking member for return to locked position, and means operable when the door is closed for preventing independent movement of the locking member relative to the actuating means.

14. In combination, a member for locking a door in closed position in its frame,k actuating means manually operable to move the locking member to unlocked position, locking means operable exteriorly of the door to lock the actuating means when said locking member is in unlocked position, means operable to release the locking member for return to locked position when the door is moved to closed position in its frame, and latch means operable when the locking member reaches locked position to prevent independent movement of the locking member with respect to the actuating means.

15. In combination, a member for locking a door in closed position in its frame, actuating means manually operable to move the locking member to unlocked position, locking means operable exteriorly of the door to lock the actuating means when said locking member is in unlocked position, means operable to release the locking member for return to locked position when the d-oor is moved to closed position in its frame, and latch means shiftable into position preventing independent movement of the locking member with respect to the actuating means, when the locking member reaches locked position.

16. In combination, a member for locking a door in closed position in its frame, actuating means manually operable to move the locking member to unlocked position, locking means operable exteriorly of the door to lock the actuating means when said locking member is in unlocked position, means operable to release the locking member for return to locked position when the door is moved to closed position in its frame, latch means operable when the locking member reaches locked position to prevent independent movement of the locking member with respect to the actuating means, and means operable to retract said latch means from latching position when the actuating means is moved in raising the locking member to unlocked position.

17. In combination, a member for locking a door in closed position ln its frame, actuating means manually operable to move the locking member to unlocked position, locking means operable exteriorly of the door to lock the actuating means when said locking member is in unlocked position, means operable to release the locking member for return to locked position when the door is moved to closed position in its frame, latch means operable When the locking member reaches locked position to prevent independent movement of the locking member with respect to the actuating means, and yielding means operatively associated with said latch means to normally retain the same in latching position, said yielding means -being operable when said actuating means is shifted to move the locking member to unlocked position to retract the latch means from latcning position in order to permit the actuating means to return to normal lockable position while the locking member remains in unlocked position.

18. A locking member adapted to be movably n mounted on a door, a manually actuatable memmanually actuatable means and the locking member to move the locking member to unlocking position upon movement of the manually actuated means in a predetermined direction, mechanism 

